Semien still delivering despite power dip
New post-surgery approach boosts on-base numbers
ANAHEIM » A’s shortstop Marcus Semien is not knocking the ball out of the park as often as he’s done in recent seasons.
After hitting 27 homers last season and 15 the year before, Semien sits with five on the season. Surgery on his right wrist that caused him to miss 74 games this year is an obvious reason for the low power number, but even in his return, the pop in his bat has just been missing.
This does not mean he has not been a good hitter. On the contrary, Semien seems to have evolved his overall approach at the plate.
After combining to bat just .151 in the 11 games before surgery and 10 games after returning, Semien has been on a tear. He proceeded to bat .329 in his next 35 games entering this past Monday’s three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. Most of the righthanded batter’s hits have gone to right field, indicat- ing a change in approach from pulling the ball to driving it the opposite way.
In addition to hitting well above his career .247 average, Semien is also getting on base a lot more than ever before.
After hovering around .300 for his career, Semien has boosted that number this season to .345.
After the A’s traded away Rajai Davis last week, Semien’s improvement has allowed A’s manager Bob Melvin to utilize him at the top of the lineup, leading off against lefties and batting second against righties.
“He’s drawing some walks now, too. His onbase is pretty good from maybe what we’ve seen in the past along with his average,” Melvin said. “He’s more comfortable at the plate and getting deeper in the count.”
Semien, whose surgery required a screw be inserted into his right hand near the base of his thumb, believes the increase in production is a combination of things.
Along with two fullyworking hands, Semien said his change of approach by hitting the ball the other way has caught opposing pitchers off guard. It is something they have not expected from him after watching him hit for power in years past.
“It helps being healthy, being able to do what I want to do in the cage and during batting practice,’’ Semien said.
“It makes a big difference difference. Also just studying pitchers and seeing how they attack me this year. There’s not as much video on me to go to this year since I was hurt. Just trying to stay on top of that.”
While the power numbers are down, Melvin believes it’s only a matter of time before the home runs come on a more regular basis for Semien again.
Even when that time comes, Semien figures to remain batting first or second given his newfound ability to get on base more often.
“The more comfortable he gets, the more progres- sion, you’ll see him start driving a few more balls,” Melvin said. “He’s got some power, and you’re seeing a lot of times now teams hit their best hitter in the twospot. The power will come. We all know he’s got it, but based on the injury he’s coming back from and still kind of feeling comfortable in the box you’ll see him drive a few more. But he’s doing what we’re asking him to do at the top of the lineup right now.”
No matter where he ends up in the lineup, Semien’s goal at the plate will not change.
“It’s still the same,” Semien said. “No matter what at-bat during the game, I try to make that pitcher work and hit something hard.”